processing world cup grief

This WC's final has been stressful for all the wrong reasons. Spain v England was a tragedy that will set back women's football for years, because of Jorge Vilda's abuse of the team and how he will be allowed to continue coaching, because his methods now provide "results." As has been noted several times by Spanish fans, the team won despite his detrimental actions, including causing more injury tie and burnout for players due to his poor training methods, his clear favouritism and his violation of boundaries and dignity (most infamously with forcing players to not lock changing rooms). In women's football, there is a chronic reluctance to invest in anything that is lacking on the men's side, unless results are shown. Outside of that, anything else is deemed an investing risk, though the risk is about as bad as any men's team (look at Tottenham or Man u). 

Given Vilda's protection by the fed despite not having won anything major in the past 14 years until now, there is certainly no way they'll even consider replacing Vilda. 15 players rebelled against him, and the result was 12 were kicked off the squad & replaced. Not being able to represent your country in sports because of abuse is a heartbreaking event for anybody, which is why I don't blame the 3 who came back. This was meant to be Mapi Leon's, Pina's and Patri Guijarro's world cup. I'm happy for Putellas, though.

As an England fan, I do have a habit of calling out the ref at any moment, but this time I think it's warranted - the Spanish players would be tackled (somebody tell them the actor's strike is ongoing) and the lionesses would be given a yellow card, Alex Greenwood's head was kicked by the knee and bleeding from her head, but Tori Pansos gave no yellow, Lauren James did a shoulder and was called handball, just to list a few examples of the bias going on. I could support demands for an investigation, but like last year, nothing will happen. But there were mistakes on the English side as well, like having Lucy Bronze be born (she plays for Barca it all makes sense).

There have been other atrocities too outside of that match. Jamaica, Nigeria (yes, the one with Alozie), Columbia, Canada and Zambia have not been paid, nor really recognised by their federations. I think this is even more heinous in Columbia's case when you remember that South American clubs have paid off men's side debts with prize money (football spending is non-existent on one side and ludicrous on the other). Either way, another world cup > brand new fuck-ups.

PS: with the way the American media and right treated Megan Rapinoe I never want to see a single one of you soulless creatures talk about protecting women's sports ever again! 

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But let's focus on the positives - Paralluelo winning U17, U20 and now the proper WWC, Vietnam's Kim Thanh and Thang Nha doing their country proud against America, this video, Waru, and America getting kicked out!